Bill · H.R. 5208· House(119-HR-5208)
To amend title 37, United States Code, to exclude the basic allowance for housing from the calculation of gross household income for purposes of the basic needs allowance for eligible members of the Armed Forces.
- Introduced
- 9/8/2025
- Last activity
- 9/8/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Sponsored by
- Jimmy Panetta
- Cosponsors
- - 5 - 3
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill proposes an amendment to title 37 of the United States Code. The goal is to change how gross household income is calculated for the basic needs allowance. Specifically, it seeks to exclude the basic allowance for housing from that calculation. This change would apply to eligible members of the Armed Forces.
Yes· 3 of 4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+3
The change in income calculation increases the available funds for the basic needs allowance for eligible military members.
Is this likely to lift people out of poverty?+3
Excluding housing allowances from income calculations allows service members to retain more of their basic needs allowance.
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+2
The bill provides a financial benefit to current eligible members of the Armed Forces through the basic needs allowance.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Adjustment to income calculations: By excluding the basic allowance for housing from the gross household income calculation, the bill changes how the basic needs allowance is determined for eligible members of the Armed Forces (Section 1).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+3Good For Veterans+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+3
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+2
- 4/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/15/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/8/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 6 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Maggie GoodlanderDemocrat · New Hampshire
Sara JacobsDemocrat · California
Jennifer KiggansRepublican · Virginia
Blake MooreRepublican · Utah
Josh RileyDemocrat · New York
Marilyn StricklandDemocrat · Washington
Gabe VasquezDemocrat · New Mexico